Aaron Spencer, who recently secured the Republican nomination for sheriff in Lonoke County, Arkansas, had a second-degree murder charge dropped by Special Circuit Court Judge Ralph Wilson Jr. The judge dismissed the case because law enforcement lost a crucial dash camera memory card that might have recorded the shooting incident.
Spencer had been awaiting trial for the shooting death of Michael Fosler, 67, who was accused of sexually abusing Spencer’s teenage daughter. This decision came just weeks before the trial was set to begin.
In March, Spencer defeated a three-term incumbent sheriff in the GOP primary. When dismissing the case, Judge Wilson criticized law enforcement’s handling of the evidence as excessively negligent, stating that it warranted dismissal.
Spencer’s attorneys acknowledged he shot Fosler in 2024. Fosler had been free on bond facing numerous sexual offense charges concerning Spencer’s then-13-year-old daughter. Documents show Spencer discovered his daughter missing, located her with Fosler, and forced Fosler’s vehicle off the road. He reported the shooting to 911 after an altercation.
Prosecutors claimed Spencer had orchestrated the killing and could have contacted police instead of pursuing Fosler. However, Spencer pleaded not guilty, asserting his actions were to protect his daughter.
In a public statement, Spencer expressed gratitude for widespread support. He acknowledged the community’s role in supporting his family during the legal battle, promising to repay their kindness throughout his life.
Attorney Erin Cassinelli, representing Spencer, expressed relief over the decision, stressing that Spencer, as a father, should not have been prosecuted for shielding his child. She emphasized that the family should not relive the traumatic events in court.
Despite attempts to contact Lonoke County Prosecuting Attorney Chuck Graham for his response, no immediate comments were received.
Spencer has incorporated his daughter’s experience with the legal system into his campaign, focusing on strategies to tackle child sex crimes. The missing video evidence was central to Spencer’s defense, as noted by his legal team. A detective from the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office failed to properly handle the dash camera, losing the memory card and neglecting to log the camera as evidence promptly, which contributed to the dismissal.
The Arkansas Supreme Court had previously replaced Judge Barbara Elmore, who initially presided over the case, due to an inappropriate gag order that infringed on Spencer’s First Amendment rights.